45 ACP lead load thoughts

[cfullgraf]

No amount of taper crimp will correct poor neck tension. If the bullet is moving in the case upon cycling, you can chuck the expander in a drill and sand the expander portion down a little, 0,001” smaller or so. Do not get into the mouth expander area. If 0.001” is not enough, take a little more off the diameter. Do not get too agressive though.

If you are loading cast bullets, chamfer the inside of the case mouth a little. It will help minimizing shaving of the bullet on seating. You also might want a little more flare than is needed with jacketed bullets. The taper crimp will remove the flare.

I seat my 230 gr RN bullets to 1.250” COL.

 

[Steve H]

How long did you say you've been reloading? 30 years?

~30 years on bottle neck hunting rifle - 270-280-30/30 7 mag.................this is my first dance with lead in a 45

was the second round a squib? meaning not much bang and the bullet lodged in the chamber or first part of rifling OR after the first cartdige firing, the second round chambered and you then ejected the unfired round and left the bullet jammed in the rifling and only ejected the unfired brass. which one was it?

after thinking and looking I think the 2nd round partially chambered, the bullet stuck, I tried to rack the slide and it was stuck. when I got the slide unstuck the empty brass came out (unfired) and powder was all over

 

[LiveLife]

230 "softball" Missouri bullets ... 4.5 grs Bullseye, 1.270 OAL. no crimp. Frist shot went bang but ... the second round partially chambered, the bullet stuck, I tried to rack the slide and it was stuck. when I got the slide unstuck the empty brass came out (unfired) and powder was all over

I think your OAL is too long and the bearing surface of the bullet base (part that rides the rifling) is hitting the start of rifling when chambered.

shortened the OAL to 1.260 and put a .008 taper crimp on the round. Is this too much of a taper? Is the .010 shortening gone to cause a pressure problem?

Try shortening your OAL and see if rounds drop in the chamber freely with a "plonk" and spin without hitting the rifling. As to powder charge vs pressure, you can consider dropping down to 4.0 gr.

As to taper crimp, I usually apply .020" to the bullet diameter to return flare back flat on the bullet so for .452" sized bullet, case mouth should measure no more than .472" and many use .470".

BTW, "target" lead load data from 2004 Alliant Load Data - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?resources/2004-alliant-load-data.18/

• 45ACP 230 gr Lead (RN) Bullseye OAL 1.190" Max 4.0 gr (810 fps)

 

[roval]

I think your OAL is too long and the bearing surface of the bullet base (part that rides the rifling) is hitting the start of rifling when chambered.

Try shortening your OAL and see if rounds drop in the chamber freely with a "plonk" and spin without hitting the rifling. As to powder charge vs pressure, you can consider dropping down to 4.0 gr.

As to taper crimp, I usually apply .020" to the bullet diameter to return flare back flat on the bullet so for .452" sized bullet, case mouth should measure no more than .472" and many use .470".

BTW, "target" lead load data from 2004 Alliant Load Data - https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?resources/2004-alliant-load-data.18/

• 45ACP 230 gr Lead (RN) Bullseye OAL 1.190" Max 4.0 gr (810 fps)

i agree that it is too long COAL and with insufficient neck tension. could that case not have been resized properly accidentally? also what gun was it that it was being fired in ? it likely has a short leade like a CZ.
i always loaded 230 gr rn jacketed and lead at 1.275 based on lyman and had no issues with 2 1911s and a sigp220. the sig had a very gentle leade. the 1911s moderate but a cz had a short leade. this resulted in the gun sometimes not going into battery. it was difficult to rack out the partially chambered round but it did not come apart. i use the softball MBC 230 gr rn also.

 

[BJung]

I currently load my 45-225 LRN with 5.0gr BE and an OAL of 1.270" (the actual weight is 230gr because of the alloy). My rounds can just chamber. By not seating a bullet as deep, pressure is less an issue and I now think that's why 5gr BE works for this OAL. Yet, attached is my groups shot from 15 yards. I plan to try 4gr BE at various OAL next time and compare the results.

 

[LiveLife]

I currently load 45-225 LRN ... OAL of 1.270"

But OP is not using the same bullet and even with the same bullet, what may work in your barrel may not work in OP's barrel.

To ensure all the rounds function reliably, OP must determine the OAL that will work with bullet and barrel combination being used.

 

[Steve H]

also what gun was it that it was being fired in ? it likely has a short leade like a CZ.

New gun Springfield Garrison only has~25 rounds down the tube

 

[BJung]

But OP is not using the same bullet and even with the same bullet, what may work in your barrel may not work in OP's barrel.

To ensure all the rounds function reliably, OP must determine the OAL that will work with bullet and barrel combination being used.

Thanks.